Can anyone recommend a good replacement for the Shimano M50 road blocks?. I used them with MA3 rims for the last 18 months but recently the rims have got quite grooved and the blocks wear out very quickly now. Probably too late to save these rims but are there any better alternatives (Kool stops/Aztec?) and if so where does one get them? I did like the M50's at first as they wore out rather than the rim whilst giving good stopping power. It is possible that being soft they get bits of alu shard embedded in them which has been suggested before. thanks in advance
"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Can anyone recommend a good replacement for the Shimano M50 road blocks?. I used them with MA3 rims for the last 18 months but recently the rims have got quite grooved and the blocks wear out very quickly now. Probably too late to save these rims but are there any better alternatives (Kool stops/Aztec?) and if so where does one get them?
Aztecs are good if you're on a budget (I'm thinking of the one-piece nut-fitting type, not the dearer 'cartridge' sort that uses an allen-key fitting), and seem to be quite widely available; the nut fitting doesn't look as neat as an allen bolt, but does keep the cost down (4 to 5 quid a pair), and they work very well. Very similar stuff at identical prices is available under the Clark's and Fibrax names - I suspect all 3 are made in the same factory (Aztec label theirs as UK-made, so it may well be the Fibrax plant in Wrexham)! I've never used Kool Stop - from what I know (a) they do cost a bit more but (b) I've heard lots of positive feedback on groups like u.r.c.
I got the Aztecs (cartridge-type) and they've worn down very quickly compared to the original Shimanos: maybe because now the rim is getting older/more abrasive? Might try Koolstops next time.
Can anyone recommend a good replacement for the Shimano M50 road blocks?. I used them with MA3 rims for the last 18 months but recently the rims have got quite grooved and the blocks wear out very quickly now. Probably too late to save these rims but are there any better alternatives (Kool stops/Aztec?) and if so where does one get them? I did like the M50's at first as they wore out rather than the rim whilst giving good stopping power. It is possible that being soft they get bits of alu shard embedded in them which has been suggested before. thanks in advance
I'm currently using cartridges from Aztec with Kool-Stop dual compound pads as the front brakes on the fixer (And the same pads in the 105 cartridges on the Giant). I find that the pads tend to squeak a little (Usually if just on and I roll forward a littl), but their stopping power is pretty good.
Today I tested them properly when (My fault, too tired, not paying enough attention) I realised that the car in front was slowing far faster than I had credited. I yanked on the brakes, slowed painfully quickly and managed to safely potter round the back of the car to reach the ASL. This resulted in a very dramatic increase in body temperature (Go figure) and a nice tingling feeling that lasted a fair way into work.
"David E. Belcher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
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Quoted message said:
Can anyone recommend a good replacement for the Shimano M50 road blocks?. I used them with MA3 rims for the last 18 months but recently the rims have got quite grooved and the blocks wear out very quickly now. Probably too late to save these rims but are there any better alternatives (Kool stops/Aztec?) and if so where does one get them?
Aztecs are good if you're on a budget (I'm thinking of the one-piece nut-fitting type, not the dearer 'cartridge' sort that uses an allen-key fitting), and seem to be quite widely available; the nut fitting doesn't look as neat as an allen bolt, but does keep the cost down (4 to 5 quid a pair), and they work very well. Very similar stuff at identical prices is available under the Clark's and Fibrax names - I suspect all 3 are made in the same factory (Aztec label theirs as UK-made, so it may well be the Fibrax plant in Wrexham)! I've never used Kool Stop - from what I know (a) they do cost a bit more but (b) I've heard lots of positive feedback on groups like
I have tried Fibrax, like broken glass! think I will go for Kool stops. BTW is there a reliable way of smoothing down the rims? was going to use wet and dry and slow revolutions.
BTW is there a reliable way of smoothing down the rims? was going to use wet and dry and slow revolutions.
Mavic do a 'soft stone' but there have been various threads on here (one very recently but I can't find it) suggesting (much cheaper!) alternatives: the brand name 'Garryflex' springs to mind -- so look it up on Google Groups.
Have you decided on your next seasons Audaxes yet? I'm going to go for as many hilly ones as possible (including yours, of course). Might (might!) do the 6.5 in Tavistock... possibly. Still not decided on LEL/ELE.
[email hidden] (David E. Belcher) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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"MartinM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Can anyone recommend a good replacement for the Shimano M50 road blocks?. I used them with MA3 rims for the last 18 months but recently the rims have got quite grooved and the blocks wear out very quickly now. Probably too late to save these rims but are there any better alternatives (Kool stops/Aztec?) and if so where does one get them?
Aztecs are good if you're on a budget (I'm thinking of the one-piece nut-fitting type, not the dearer 'cartridge' sort that uses an allen-key fitting), and seem to be quite widely available; the nut fitting doesn't look as neat as an allen bolt, but does keep the cost down (4 to 5 quid a pair), and they work very well.
Just a thought, after posting this - I guess it depends on the type of rim, too; aren't MA3s made of a 'softer' grade of material (ordinary Dural?) than the 6xxx series Maxtal of the Open Pro (which is what I ride)? So this might be another factor to bear in mind when choosing blocks.
